Beaded Frame

This treatment was a joint project between an artifacts student who graduated in 2017 and myself who completed the project in 2018. She started with the documentation and treatment proposals and I carried out the treatment and returned the object to the private client. This is a 19th century Iroquois beaded frame and the client request was to clean it to restore vibrancy to the beads and stabilize without the addition of new materials (cloth, beads, thread). The major areas of concern were the beads which had a heavy amount of dirt and dust build up causing them to the look dull. There is also dirt and a layer of corrosion on the metal sequins on the frame. This can be seen in the photo-micrographs below this text.

The analysis of this object revealed the beading technique that was used to manufacture this object. The x-ray image to the right shows the dense bead areas which shows that the beading was built up in layers in order to create these circular mounds on the frame. In other areas it was raised beading with one layer of beads such as on the sides of the frame. Portable XRF analysis of the sequins showed that they were brass with a composition of copper, zinc, lead and traces of arsenic and iron. The spectrum can be seen below this text. The calcium peak is the residue left from the calcium carbonate polish that was used to clean the sequins.

The final treatment for this object was as follows:

• Mechanical surface cleaning using nylon net and, handheld vacuum, make up sponges, soft brushes, scalpels, acupuncture needles, air puffer, and dental tools
• Solvent surface cleaning of the beaded elements using a mixture of ethanol and water with cotton swabs.
• Mechanical surface cleaning of the sequins with a wooden skewer and calcium carbonate polish with cotton swabs.
• Dry cleaning of the textile to reduce staining using ethanol and blotting paper as a poultice.
• Reintegration of the loose beads using a mixture of Lascaux 498:360 in a ratio of 2:1 and 3:1 films reactivated with ethanol to re-adhere the threads once beads have been re threaded
• Create a box for storage and transport of the beaded frame

The total hours for the cleaning of the individual beading and sequins was 40 hours and the results were well worth the work. The vibrancy of the white and colours of the beads has been restored.